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Updated: Aug 11, 2026

Oct4GiP Reporter Assay to Study Genes that Regulate Mouse Embryonic Stem Cell Maintenance and Self-renewal
Published on: May 30, 2012
Maintenance of embryonic stem cell pluripotency by Nanog-mediated reversal of mesoderm specification
Atsushi Suzuki1, Angel Raya, Yasuhiko Kawakami
1Salk Institute for Biological Studies, La Jolla, CA 92037, USA.
Abstract:
Embryonic stem cells (ESCs) can be propagated indefinitely in culture, while retaining the ability to differentiate into any cell type in the organism. The molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying ESC pluripotency are, however, poorly understood. We characterize a population of early mesoderm-specified (EM) progenitors that is generated from mouse ESCs by bone morphogenetic protein stimulation. We further show that pluripotent ESCs are actively regenerated from EM progenitors by the action of the divergent homeodomain-containing protein Nanog, which, in turn, is upregulated in EM progenitors by the combined action of leukemia inhibitory factor and the early mesoderm transcription factor T/Brachyury. These findings uncover specific roles of leukemia inhibitory factor, Nanog, and bone morphogenetic protein in the self-renewal of ESCs and provide novel insights into the cellular bases of ESC pluripotency.
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